The Hobbit
NEW YORK - Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema have reached agreement to make J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," a planned prequel to the blockbuster trilogy "The Lord of the Rings."
Jackson, who directed the "Rings" trilogy, will serve as executive producer for "The Hobbit." A director for the prequel films has yet to be named.
Relations between Jackson and New Line had soured after "Rings," despite a collective worldwide box office gross of nearly $3 billion — an enormous success. The two sides nevertheless were able to reconcile, with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) splitting "The Hobbit" 50/50, spokemen for both studios said Tuesday.
"I'm very pleased that we've been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line," Jackson said in a statement. "We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth."
Two "Hobbit" films are scheduled to be shot simultaneously, similar to how the three "Lord of the Rings" films were made. Production is set to begin in 2009 with a released planned for 2010, with the sequel scheduled for a 2011 release.
I do hope that they are able to cast Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf once again. I have watched the LOTR trilogy of movies multiple times and each time I find just how amazing Ian McKellen's performance was and that his performance should have won him the Oscar for Best Supporting Oscar. His homosexual activism is annoying, but it doesn't spoil for me his pitch perfect portrayal of Gandalf or the excellent job he did as Magneto in X-Men.
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 Marcel LeJeune |
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He definitely is a good actor.
I really liked the LOTR series although I did not like the cast. I mean Legolas, Gimli, Boromir, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Sam, Wormtongue, Gollum, Treebeard and Sarumon were the only well cast characters. While the list seems long, compared with three four hour movies this list is quite short and most of the main characters are missing. I also do not like the fact that the movies strays from the books as far as Faramir giving in to the temptation of the ring and when the movie does not include characters like Old Tom Bombidil (sp?)
Two Hobbit films? I can understand three Lord of the Rings movies. Three huge books, three movies. Makes sense. But The Hobbit is incredibly shorter than even one of those books. Are these going to be two 3 hour movies? Are they going to try to add in more allusions to the original triology? Am I missing something Tolkien wrote?
I liked King Theoden. (After he was released from Saruman's spell). And Elrond should have been a different actor. I kept waiting for him to say "Hello, Mr Anderson."
I wonder if Ian Holm will reprise his role as Bilbo.
Maybe they're making two movies so that there won't be as much squawking from purists that too much material was excised, like in LOTR. Either that, or they'll include the parts where Gandalf was absent in the book - he was off battling the Necromancer in Dol Guldur, if I recall, from after Beorn to the Battle of Five Armies.
Either way, I'm excited! Indiana Jones in 2008, Hobbit in 2009 and 2010.
I've said this many times, but what does once more matter?
It's puzzling how Jackson could get so much right with his LOTR movies, but at the same time make some of the most egregious errors imagineable.
Here's hoping for better from THE HOBBIT, but a man who was quoted as saying he never liked The Scouring of the Shire and "didn't get it" (thus not filming it) cannot be trusted to now produce a film of THE HOBBIT that authentically represents Tolkien's vision. The book is also called THERE AND BACK AGAIN, but this guy totally misses the point of the "and back again."
Of course there are also the vile distortions of Faramir and the Ents, the horrible depiction of the elves, and the muddying of the destruction of the Ring.
Interesting that New Line is releasing this info now, while The Golden Compass continues its slide down the toilet.
Filthy Jackssson! he sssstole the precioussss movie rites and we wantsssss them back. The contract ssssays it wassss our birthday pressssent.
This is very fortunate for New Line, as the rumors here in Hollywood this week were that New Line was going under, especially after the dismal box office returns for the Golden Compass... this deal with Jackson may save the studio... so I'm not surprised they would give in to some of Jackson's demands.
Great news from Jackson and New Line, though they are now saying that Jackson will not direct because of previous obligations. My hunch is that might change and that such news is just an attempt to keep up the hype. New Line should thank the God they apparantly don't believe in that he came and rescued them from putting their faith in the atheistic movie, The Golden Compass. Who says God doesn't give second chances? Let's hope Bob Shaye and New Line do it right this time.
Maybe they will use parts of the Simiriliion (sp?) since it is two movies and get into some of the creation stuff.
I think it will definitely take two movies to cover all of "The Hobbit". The play removed the man who turned into a bear and the Dwarves' repeated attempts to get food from the Elves before being captured, not to mention all the trouble that Bilbo had in getting his house back from his relatives.